Don't Be a Dunce

Beware the inbox!

By Jaimal Yogis
, Aug 28, 2007

You know from your yoga practice that the mind often runs at a feverish pace, much like a monkey jumping from branch to branch of a tree. Multitasking, of course, doesn't help: It keeps you from being calm, present, and truly awake to what you're doing. But now there's proof that one particular form of multitasking might actually make you stupid.

Scientists believe that incessantly checking email can lead to significant IQ loss, making workers less efficient. A recent study from the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of London suggests that your IQ falls 10 points when you're fielding constant emails, text messages, and calls, the same loss you'd experience if you missed an entire night's sleep and more than double the 4-point loss you'd have after smoking marijuana. On average, men fared worse than women because, researchers say, men have more difficulty multitasking.

Who knew that the ancient wisdom of yoga could make you more productive at the office?